Hargrave's Solavaca Mountain Bike Adventure - A Texas Mountain Bike Trail
Tweets by @Solavaca
Solavaca Days
A note on camping -- We do not allow camping. The camping area is closed year-round.
Especially during wet weather, check the tweets just on the left side of this page for trail conditions, closings, or other news. Some of you know how to get Twitter to feed to your phone so you can get updates automatically.
Believers on Mountain Bikes is a monthly thing. Plans are to meet on Saturday once a month. There's some group discussion and fellowship for 20-25 minutes, and riding after. Search FaceBook for Believers on Mountain Bikes (North Texas). Fee is waived for all attendees but please complete the Liability Waiver in the Sign-In area.
In the Welcome shed, you sign-in, pay the fee of $3/person, and slip into the changing booth if needed. Tables and chairs are also here for your use. A reminder - The trail is what we are sharing. Stay on it please. Ride it responsibly, respecting that we have the trail built the way we like it - NEVER alter the trail. Never ride muddy trails. If you are riding here that means that you are a Friend. Help me protect the priviledge for you and others by speaking out if you see some bad behavior. Take your trash with you. Leave the "Friends" area clean for the next guy!
Before you come, please read the rules. Trail Tips Guests are asked to help us stay clean and safe; report any problems.
This Texas mountain bike trail is located in the limestone hills of the Paluxy River watershed. Just down the road is the Dinosaur Valley State Park.
- Fee is: $3/person per day. Hours are Daylight to Dark.
- Solavaca is a privately owned ranch with an ideal topography for a mountain bike trail. A seasonal creek runs across the property from south to north. This clear water creek, flowing or dry, is dominate in several of the more technical parts of the trail.
- These videos on our trail give you a good idea of the trail. Pre-Ride Video 2013 and CAT 3 Racer
- The 8+ miles of single-track trail - all marked ORANGE - lead the rider through a variety of challenges as well as sections of scenic and fast riding.
- The Hargrave's designed, built, and maintain the trail.
- Some sections require a more advanced level of skill and a bike that is built to handle it. Rocky descents, climbing, steep dropoffs, roots, logs, a rock garden, just to name a few.
- Beginners may want to use the "go-arounds" marked with WHITE arrows, so as to avoid the more technical sections. But for some, the harder sections should be walked just to be safe.
- There is also a primitive camping area that is available during events or large group bookings.USE AND CAMPING
- The barn and the immediate proximity is private.
- Read the rules of use and adhere to those strictly (see the Use and Camping link above).
- Complete the waiver completely as soon as you arrive.
- Wear a helmet whenever you are on a bicycle, properly fit and properly worn.
- Take your trash with you.
- We share the trail for a nominal fee. We are not, and do not want to be treated as, a public venue.
Please keep in mind that the Solavaca is not just a trail but also is the home and private residence of the Hargrave's. Please respect the delicate balance between our hospitality and our privacy. Stay in the areas alloted for your use.
| Current Somervell County Weather |
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Helmets are required when you are astride a bike please. No PETS, No KIDDING. |
WHAT TO EXPECT
When you drive up to the gate, it will be closed to keep the livestock in. The dogs that guard the goats will bark but they will not bother you.
Come in and please close the gate behind you. You will see the Sign-In/Visitor area where you will go to sign the waiver. Drop your FEE ($3 per person) in the can provided. There are tables,
chairs, shade, and a porta-jon provided nearby. The trail is just feet from the Visitor area - immediately across the driveway. Follow the ORANGE markers, or take the WHITE arrows to
shorten the loop a little. All trail leads back to the trail-head eventually. ORANGE Loop mileage is 8.5 miles. The ranch roads are not generally for biking but serve to get you back if you have
an emergency or a mechanical. Please try to avoid cutting through the Hargrave's house/barn area except in the case of an emergency.
